Well, I just hate to spoil all the summer suspense, but here’s the 49ers’ 53-man roster projection: QB (2): Colin Kaepernick, Blaine Gabbert Cut: Dylan Thompson Thompson, a rookie free agent, is obviously a strong candidate for the practice squad given the skimpy depth chart at this position. The 49ers didn’t use one of their …

As the 49ers discovered in August, Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will blitz during the preseason.
But that’s nothing. San Francisco center Jonathan Goodwin, who spent two seasons with Williams in New Orleans, makes it sound as if Williams… …

According to the report, Payton, upset that Harbaugh didn’t call to discuss the rules of engagement, told defensive coordinator Gregg Williams to blitz the Niners, who allowed six first-half sacks under New Orleans’ heavy pressure. …

They registered six sacks and nine quarterback hits on Drew Brees, who had a 73.0 rating, the second-lowest of the season. Before a garbage-time touchdown drive that ended with a scoring pass to Lance Moore with six seconds left, Brees had completed 20 of 31 passes for 181 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. …

Crazy. Nuts. And bogus.
Those were the words Saints coach Sean Payton used to describe a report that he was offended when 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh didn’t call him before their teams met in the preseason on Aug. 12. The report was based on what a Saints… …

Five months after the fact, an NFL preseason game could actually mean something.
On the cusp of the franchise’s first playoff game in nine years, the 49ers can look back to August and savor memories of the sucker punches their offense took in New Or… …

Cornerback Chris Culliver of the 49ers offered a clever, impromptu Drew Brees impersonation Monday. Culliver was fielding questions about Brees when he suddenly struck a quarterback’s pose – right arm cocked as if about to throw, eyes patiently scanni… …

Don’t count out Delanie Walker just yet.
Sixteen days after Walker’s jaw was broken in two places Dec. 24 at Seattle, coach Jim Harbaugh said the 49ers will keep a roster spot open for him in hopes he can play in the postseason.
Harbaugh didn’t rule W… …

The subject was raised today, of course, because the Harbaugh and Payton will renew acquaintances Saturday at Candlestick Park. The game will be played five months after New Orleans violated NFL protocol by blitzing, and blitzing, and blitzing San Francisco in the preseason opener. …

Sixteen days after Walker had his jaw broken in two places on Dec. 24 at Seattle, coach Jim Harbaugh said the 49ers will keep a roster spot open for him in hopes that he can play in the postseason. Harbaugh didn’t rule Walker out of Saturday’s divisional playoff game against the Saints, but it seems more likely that he would return for a potential NFC Championship Game or the Super Bowl. …

As a quarterback, Jim Harbaugh refused to bury his teammates. Even as he kept getting buried while dropping back behind a past-its-prime offensive line.
In 1993, Harbaugh was sacked 43 times, the second most in the NFL, for a Bears team that finished 7… …

Waddle went on to note, with great admiration, that Harbaugh never criticized his leaky line. Never even subtly called them out in an attempt to explain his own struggles. In fact, Harbaugh presented his linemen with Rolex watches near the end of the season. He even gave a Rolex to Frank Kmet, an offensive lineman who had spent most of the season playing defense. …

Lately, Vernon Davis has been laser-focused on the NFL playoffs, which got under way this weekend. But talk to the San Francisco 49ers’ tight end in a month or so, and his attention may turn from passes and blocks to paint chips and bolsters.
In early… …

Santa Clara residents opposed to plans to build a San Francisco 49ers stadium officially started collecting signatures Saturday in an effort to get the city to reconsider its decision to take out an $850 million construction loan.
The grassroots group… …

Thirty years later, John Storey remains grateful it was Joe Montana scrambling to his right on that memorable January 1982 day. Another quarterback might not have artfully lobbed his pass high into the end zone the way Montana did.
And then Dwight Clar… …

Niners tight end Justin Peelle often works out with his good friend and former teammate Drew Brees in the offseason in San Diego.
In 2012, Peelle will meet up with his pal a little sooner than usual after Brees led the Saints to a 45-28 win over the vi… …